When you're young, it's better to think less...

Nearly a month had passed since Xu Jiao had that coffee shop appointment when Yang Jian contacted her again. She expressionlessly picked up the call to answer, none of her indifference reflected in the polite tones of her voice.

After chatting about trivial mundanities of daily life, wherein Yang Jian apologized gently for not being able to contact her due to being busy adjusting to the new courses, the conversation fell into an awkward silence which is something that rarely happens if the person you're talking with is Yang Jian.

But, Xu Jiao instantly know what was coming, having experienced this silence quite a number of times back in those years. If it was the past her, she'd have asked what was wrong, even if it was during the later periods when she started realizing the true nature of this person bit by bit.

But not today and not ever again; why should she make things easier for this douchebag? He clearly wanted something from her, but just because he wanted it, why should she give it? She decided to let things go doesn't mean she forgave those transgressions.

The silence continued to grow till it was almost suffocating while she persisted in staring patiently at her nails. Probably unable to bear it anymore, Yang Jian coughed lightly and started speaking in a hesitant tone.

"Xu Jiao, that… are you angry at me or something?"

"Why should I be angry with you?" her voice sounded polite and distant even in her own ears.

"Ah, that⎯ that's good then… I'm glad!"

"Oh."

"I- actually I— Jiao'ah, there is actually something I wanna talk to you about."

"Oh, what's it?" Xu Jiao asked without much curiosity in her tone, but she was inwardly feeling derisive.

[Jiao'ah eh? You even changed the way of addressing… Too bad I don't get soft-hearted for this 'Jiao'ah' anymore! It just feels… disgusting.]

Yang Jian always used to address her with the more formal Xu Jiao, but he'd use this more intimate form of address occasionally. And every single time, she would grow soft-hearted thinking this is his special form of address for her and only used when it's just the two of them together— their own little secret.

Pure nonsense of course, but her second-biggest talent is in self-deceit, so…

[Well, he could pretend to be affectionate to me, so why can't I pretend soft-heartedness?]

".... So, I wanna talk to you about selecting the project topic… We should select it quickly, right?"

[Project topic? What project is he talking—]

[Oh that…]

"Yes, we should…we need to submit the proposal after the holidays."

"Right, right! There's even a preliminary presentation to do."

"Hmm"

"Then, let's meet and talk?"

"...ok"

Xu Jiao stared at the phone, her expression showing thoughtfulness. Did this Yang Jian only wanted to talk with her about this project? She couldn't and wouldn't believe it!

[If Yu Min hadn't complained to him by now, I might as well change my surname to Yang!]

***

It was late night and it was raining heavily, yet the roof over their heads and the house that encased them within it made Xu Jiao feel like the dreary outside and the little space the two of them are in are two separate worlds altogether. Wu Man sat with her head bent over a book, pondering something in it while she was–

Wu Man raised her head from the book about the abstract painting style she borrowed from the library to the sight of her friend staring at the wall opposite her while her hands lay motionless on the keyboard of her laptop.

[Aai.. she's at it again! What's wrong with her these days?] It can't be that she's still thinking about senior Guo, right? That's such a difficult crush to have ah!

Sighing, she got up from her chair and walked over while shaking her head. Little Jiao, everything about her is good. She isn't afraid of Wu Man just because of how she looks and doesn't laugh at how much she eats. She's also very patient and sweet too. Just…

[Aaiya… She's still so young, even younger than me by two months. Yet, acting so serious and mature all the time…]

[It's not good to think too much, especially when you're young ah! Aai… So pitiful!]

Heaving another long sigh while her heart brimmed with a feeling of motherly affection, Wu Man bent over to pat her friend's shoulder to wake her up from whatever daydream she was immersed in right now. It's ok to daydream occasionally but dazing here and there is not a good habit to have. Little Jiao is such a good girl; she doesn't want her to fall to a disadvantage because of this little habit.

Just as she was stretching her hand, Wu Man's eyes inadvertently fell on the laptop screen, and her actions suddenly paused.

[What?]

No matter how she looked at it, the display on the laptop screen seemed to be the creating interface of Xuri, right? And, you ask how she knows that as a self-proclaimed ardent reader of the work on this platform? That's because she also once tried her hands at becoming a comic artist on it ah!

Well… she hadn't succeeded at it and had given up after just two days, but still… she bent closer to take a better look at the words spreading across the screen when suddenly,

"What are you doing?"

"Ahhhh!!" two simultaneous shouts of pain resounded within the room; Wu Man could be seen clutching her chin while Xu Jiao was seen bent over holding her forehead, painting a rather comical scene.

"Ahh! Ah! Hurts so much!!"

"Wu Man you– Is your chin made of rock or what?" Xu Jiao snapped while rubbing her forehead to ease the pain.

"Your head is the one made of rock!"

"..." Fine– she won't argue with a kid like this. Hmm… Wait a minute…

[Earlier, wasn't this brat–]

"Hey, what were you doing earlier? Why were you looking at my laptop?"

"I-I was just curious. Anyway, what were you writing?"

Xu Jiao quickly closed her laptop without even shutting down it properly and got up from the chair.

"Hey! Hey! It was Xuri, right? I saw it… are you writing there?"

"What Xuri? I'm going to sleep…Don't bother me!"

And, no matter how much Wu Man kept pestering her after that, Xu Jiao just covered her head, turned over on the bed, and pretended to be dead, leaving Wu Man feeling rather speechless. Did she have to do that ah? This behavior of hers is just too obvious!

Rubbing her still smarting chin -which she was sure now would sport a rather noticeable bruise come tomorrow morning- Wu Man stared thoughtfully at the closed laptop on the table… Could it be– Little Jiao is shy?

Maybe she thinks her writing is not good and is afraid that people who know her would see it and laugh? Aaiyo… How cute!!

[Later I should bother her until she shows it to me… Anyway, I already showed her my work, so it's only fair, right?]

Wu Man laughed out loud imagining the troubled look of her friend when she keeps bothering her for details, unaware the person herself was perking up her ears while still lying on the bed with her eyes glinting unusually. Xu Jiao listened to the sounds coming from the adjoining room, the look in her eyes slowly turning determined and resolute, from the earlier vacant look they were sporting.

***

The air felt fresh and chilly but the ground squelched uncomfortably under the soles of her shoes while Xu Jiao slowly walked her way over to the humungous library on the campus grounds, carefully avoiding the yet-to-dry puddles found everywhere. She had promised to meet Yang Jian at the library, and even though the time for the appointment had already passed by about ten minutes, she was in no hurry.

It was because Xu Jiao was certain that this cretin would wait for her without no complaint whatsoever; he always did possess quite a hefty amount of patience when he needed something from others. And, she had a certain hunch that maybe Yu Min might not have tagged along for this meeting.

[Let him stew for a bit… Anyway, he always wanted to have the best for himself first, even when it comes to Yu Min.]

"You came! I didn't bother you, right?" Xu Jiao bit down on the urge to roll her eyes at the other's attitude that looked positively enthusiastic.

"It's fine, I don't have classes now."

"Ah, that's good, that's good…"

"Hmm…"

"So, did you think of something to do for that project?"

"No, not yet… I was thinking of finding a topic during summer vacation, but…"

She pretended not to see how Yang Jian looked downright discomfited; it wasn't her problem anyway. After awkwardly conversing for nearly ten minutes about which professor or senior lecturer is good as a supervisor and their areas of research interest -he did most of the talking while Xu Jiao kept her replies short-, they entered another silence which felt just as much awkward as their conversation.

Yang Jian twisted in his seat uncomfortably, wondering how to bring the discussion to the right track. He didn't know when talking turned so uncomfortable for the two of them; especially when this girl used to hang on to every single word he uttered in the past. Of course, even then she wouldn't talk much, but it had never felt this awkward or stifling.

[What changed exactly?] He wondered in a daze, watching the way her slender fingers motionlessly lay on the polished surface of the table.

"Ah- that, Jiao'ah… I also wanna ask you ask something else." Yang Jian steeled himself to ask about that matter– he cannot not ask it after all.

"Hmm?"

"That- can you tell me… Why are you still angry with Yu Min?"